Embedded text in Flash
How Google index text embedded in Adobe Flash?
In this experiment we will try to figure out can and how Google index content inside the Adobe Flash .swf file.
Experiment will provide us with answers to 6 questions?
- Can Google recognize text in static text field?
- Can Google recognize embedded text in dynamic field?
- Can Google recognize dynamic text inserted via variable?
- Can Google index dynamic text inserted via instance name?
- What will happen if we assign some text to a variable but not show that text on the stage?
- What will happen if we add some nice content in ActionScript and make it commented?
Experiment is created with Adobe Flash CS3 and published for Flash Player 9 and ActionScript 2.0
January 5th
After few months of waiting we have good results!
#1 Yes Google can index static text fields:Link to static content
#2 Yes Google can index static text in dynamic text fields:Link to static content
#3 Yes!Link to dynamic content
#4 Hell Yes!Link to dynamic content
#5 This is really good. Google is not showing text that is used in variables but not displayed on the staga!
_root.fake1 = "fake text 1";Link to non used content
#6 This is really good. Google is not showing text that is used in variables but not displayed on the staga!
fake2.text = "fake text 2";Link to non used content
October 7th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
It would be amazing to have the ability to index flash. Please keep me posted on your findings.
Best,
Edwin
November 4th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Brilliant idea! This is something we talk a lot about at work - can’t wait for the results!
November 6th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I know that Google does index flash sites now, but only with at least a textual content around the site.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:48 am
Google didn’t pick up the simplest one (i.e. “text 1 in static field”). Look:
http://ioj.com/u/get_file.php?id=167257&file=l17u5b54rcc4.jpg
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=0ih&q=text+1+in+static+field+site%3Aflashnseo.com&btnG=Search
That search result is for html indexed, not the swf above. I haven’t tried all 4, but I assume if it doesn’t pick up the easiest one, it won’t pick up the others. Anyone else want to try the other ones???
James
from
FaceySpacey.com - “The Startup Incubator”
December 4th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Add to my Bookmarks )
December 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
It looks that after 2 months Google still didn’t indexed Flash
Good thing is that other experiments have success
January 5th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Finally we have good results!
Please check them bellow flash at the beginning of the article
January 6th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Until I go to a full-blown flash website where I can hit the back button without being redirected to the root, this will be irrelevant. Flash, just like non-content imagery is not accessible, and never will be. Flash should be used for nothing but enhancing the user experience. It should never take away from a visitor who cannot access flash content, for whatever reason.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@Cher: Ever hear of SWFAddress or URLKit for deep linking?
Try some of the sites in the showcase:
http://www.asual.com/swfaddress/showcase/ no back button issues
January 8th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I guess I’m just not that excited about this. It directs me to the .swf file rather than the the actual web page which I don’t see as that beneficial. However, without this site and your efforts I doubt I would have known that. Nice job guys.
January 8th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Cher Stewart,
You can use a script called SWF Address (http://www.asual.com/swfaddress/) to create the Back button function in flash (or ajax). Basically it creates anchor tags in the movie so your foo.html#morefee link goes to a predetermined frame in the movie, not frame 1.
Id love to see how Google treats a deep link into a flash movie.
Keep up the great work with this project.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
@steve
I do not develop in strictly flash sites, my concern is not my ability to develop a site with the ability to use the back button, my frustrations come from visiting websites I cannot modify the code of.
Sure, you can direct me to those tools, but it does me no good, as I cannot hack into the websites and fix the code to be logical.
Don’t get me wrong, I like flash, just as long as it is used properly.
- Cher Stewart
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Simply use sifr when you want pretty text. Avoid having too much flash - always. Just subtle flash in an overall html page is the only way you’ll get good results in google. There’s the simple fact of the matter.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Look at my exhaustive post for all the details, condensed as seen on The Searchable SWF by Jim Corbett.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/447565/is-dynamic-textfields-inside-flash-indexable#486846
February 17th, 2009 at 4:58 am
for the first frame of the flash, add a script to detech current browser’s address, if the url ended with .swf, redirect to the actual html page,
but what is the AS code are able to carry out the check?
February 17th, 2009 at 5:07 am
sorry, i wrote the wrong name for the previous comment,
@stuart,
in the html page, give the swf file a variable example : flash.swf?home=true;
on the first frame of the flash : AS : if (home==”true”){play()}; else { getURL(”home.html”);}
March 21st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
thank you for the info
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:37 am
hi
This is srikanth good i was tested some another applications it’s searching perfectly it’s true
Regards
Srikanth sutari
April 8th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
God point about this, nice summary.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Great post thanks for the info
September 24th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I would like to start saying that flashseo seems for me a very good idea!
Google indexes very well flash content
if you check if i done well the SEO for my website searching on google: u can play
http://www.google.ro/search?hl=ro&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&num=50&q=u+can+play&btnG=C%C4%83utare&meta=
Result will show some content i wrote inside a flash movie into a right side box called “U LIKE U CAN PLAY ?”
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Hi there, awesome website, just a quick question, what spam blocker system you use for comments since I am getting so many spammers on my web site.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Hi,
try with Akismet Spam filter
February 14th, 2010 at 8:58 am
I think it would be great for seo…
Thanks